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Articles by Nick Currie
Alex Palou wins Long Beach Grand Prix
After six attempts, IndyCar’s most dominant active driver finally got a win around the streets of Long Beach. The Spaniard had never finished worse than fifth in Southern California, but the top step of the podium at IndyCar’s most prestigious street race eluded him until today. “With the opportunity I had winning the 500 last year, the Long Beach GP this year, it just feels like I’m living on this amazing cloud of happiness,” Palou said.
Kyle Kirkwood wins in Long Beach
Kyle Kirkwood started first and never lost control on his way to his second win around the streets of Long Beach. “This is a historic race, and I don’t think it’s set in yet for me,” Kirkwood said. “To win the 50th anniversary of this is huge.” It marks the first time all season Alex Palou (No. 12) hasn’t taken home the win.
IndyCar returns for the 50th Grand Prix of Long Beach
Alex Palou may be coming off two wins in two races, but he will not start up front Sunday in the 50th Grand Prix of Long Beach. Former Long Beach winner, Kyle Kirkwood, took that spot from the Spaniard in a predictably strong weekend thus far for Andretti Global. All three Andrettis made the Fast Six in qualifying, with Colton Herta (No. 26) alongside Kirkwood (No. 27) on the front row and Marcus Ericsson (No. 28) set to start fifth.
Alex Palou wins IndyCar Grand Prix at The Thermal Club
Even though Pato O’Ward led almost uninterrupted until lap 55, Alex Palou took home a convincing win at The Thermal Club. The win continues Palou’s preposterous start to a third straight title — he leads his teammate, Scott Dixon (No. 9), by 39 points after only two races, winning both, the first time someone won both opening races since Dixon did it in 2020.
What to watch for in IndyCar’s race in Coachella Valley
For the first time, IndyCar is racing for points at The Thermal Club. The series has tested at the private track in Coachella Valley many times and held an exhibition race at the circuit last year — won by three-time champ Alex Palou (No. 10). With the stakes higher than ever before, we take you through exactly what to watch for in the series’ second race on FOX. Were last year’s crashes from the format or a product of the track?
From ‘Serving Kant’ to serving… nothing: Eurovision made a good decision, but far too late
If someone told you they were “serving kant,” you wouldn’t think they were saying “singing” in Maltese. While that seems obvious — at least to me — it is nonetheless Malta’s argument for why their entry, “Kant” by Miriana Conte, should not be banned from this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. No other words in the song are in Maltese. It is playing on a slang term — “serving c**t” — which has become a popular phrase over the last year or two.
“The Traitors” is a wonderful show, but an awful game
This review contains spoilers for the AU, UK, and US versions of “The Traitors.” “The Traitors” has taken the world by storm. In the United States, the show has already seen three Emmy wins — for host Alan Cumming, the casting and for the show itself — in two seasons. In the United Kingdom, nearly a seventh of the country tunes in three nights a week to see which “faithful” has been murdered and whether a “traitor” will be banished.
Department of Education blocks Elon Musk’s DOGE from accessing student data
Are you afraid Elon Musk will learn if you’re married, steal your social security number, or laugh at your pitiful bank account? A federal judge says he’s not allowed to - at least for now. The Washington Post recently reported that Musk’s new Department of Government Efficiency -DOGE - had gained access to the records from the National Student Loan Data System. These records include social security numbers, marital status, and income information for over 40 million people.
Opinion: Don’t give Maiava too much credit for this winning streak
After losing four out of the prior five games, head coach Lincoln Riley pulled the plug — redshirt junior Miller Moss would no longer start as the Trojan quarterback, redshirt sophomore Jayden Maiava would. Two games into the Maiava experiment, USC is on a two-game winning streak. The last-ditch effort to salvage a chance at a bowl game has worked — the Trojans now have six wins. They’re in.
USC football unable to overcome Tyler Warren and Penn State
Lincoln Riley is 11-10 in his last 21 games, 5-8 in his last 13, 4-6 in his last 10. USC is struggling. But Lincoln Riley says the record doesn’t tell the full story. “They’re going to focus on the record and the fact that we lost three games on the last play, and I understand that’s part of it. We all knew this when we signed up for big boy football, so I get it,” Riley said. “I have to do a better job within the games.
USC defense ready for a reset in 2024
USC fans rejoiced when defensive coordinator Alex Grinch was fired midway through the 2023 season. His replacement, D’Anton Lynn — poached from crosstown rival UCLA — promised a new, more normal approach for the upcoming season. When asked of his top priorities defensively, Lynn simply said “stopping the run and affecting the quarterback.” That may seem like a boring answer, but it marks a shift from the Grinch era, who focused more on forcing turnovers than working on the fundamentals.
USC in the Olympics: Five sports combine to send 15 Trojans to Paris
This is a part of a series from Annenberg Media, highlighting the Olympians that USC is sending to Paris this year. USC has one of the richest histories of any American university at the Summer Olympics. The Trojans are sending 66 to the 2024 Games in Paris, more than any other U.S. university.
USC in the Olympics: Trojans send 14 water polo athletes to 2024 Games
This is a part of a series from Annenberg Media, highlighting the Olympians that USC is sending to Paris this year. USC has one of the richest histories of any American university at the Summer Olympics. The Trojans are sending 66 to the 2024 Games in Paris, more than any other U.S. university.
Ivan Gallegos returns home following DA decision
USC student Ivan Gallegos is home after Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced last week he would not be charged for fatally stabbing an unhoused man. “He’s still traumatized,” Najee Ali, Gallegos’s family friend, said. Ali told Annenberg Media on Monday that the student’s mother had returned all the donations she had collected for his legal fees and bail. It’s not known when Gallegos might return to campus or whether the university has contacted him.
USG releases statement in response to the crackdown on Divest From Death protests
USG called on USC to “forgo any further retaliatory action against students” for their participation in peaceful protests on campus in a statement addressed to President Carol Folt, Provost Andrew Guzman and “USC senior administrators.” The letter comes after 93 protestors were arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department Wednesday evening after establishing an encampment in Alumni Park.
Trojan Tracker: 2024 NFL Draft
The time has come for the 2024 NFL Draft, and a few Trojans are expected to hear their name called by the end of the three-day event in Detroit. Follow along here for live updates on the USC players taken in this year’s NFL Draft from Will Simonds, Thomas Johnson and Nick Charles Currie. Chicago Bears, Pick No. 1: Caleb Williams, QB After months of waiting, Caleb Williams is the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Scott Dixon wins Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
An unpredictable race ended with one of the most predictable outcomes in IndyCar: Scott Dixon won with fuel strategy Sunday at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. With the win, the six-time champion moves into second in the championship. He’s now won at least one race in 20 consecutive years, one more year than his teammate Kyffin Simpson (No. 4) has spent alive.
What to expect around the streets of Long Beach
The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is in its 49th year, but it is as hard to predict as ever. Meyer Schenk Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60) took pole position, continuing a hot start to the season and to his time with the team. This will be the fourth front-row start in four races for the Swede. It’s the first time the team has started on pole in a points race, but Rosenqvist did lead the field to green in Thermal. Will Power (No. 12) has had a roller coaster weekend already.
Palou dominates in IndyCar’s Thermal Million Dollar Challenge
In both his heat race and in the final, Alex Palou was untouchable. The driver of the No. 10 car took home his heat race by five seconds over teammate Marcus Armstrong (No. 11) in second. The Ganassi drivers were over ten seconds ahead of third place Graham Rahal (No. 15). In the Million Dollar Challenge, Palou again won by over five seconds, never facing serious challenges for the top spot. The podium was set from the start.
Barrage of attacks against Trump not swaying his most loyal supporters
IRMO, S.C. — The South Carolina Republican primary made clear that much of the GOP voter base is not swayed by the criminal charges or any of the other issues plaguing former President Donald Trump. He’s been attacked by the Democrats and even within his own party, but his standing remained strong as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley promised to keep up her quixotic battle to become the Republican presidential nominee.
Preview: IndyCar’s One Million Dollar Challenge
Ever wonder if the Clash at the Coliseum was a success? IndyCar certainly thinks so. The open-wheel series is running its own exhibition race in Southern California this weekend. Like with the Clash, heat races will determine which members of the grid participate in the battle for one million dollars (kind of). That’s about where the similarities end. The Clash was in a major metropolitan area, designed to put NASCAR in front of an audience it normally wouldn’t reach.
Life on the line
It was October and Alan Starzinski was sorry. He apologized to everyone he told to use the crosswalk. He apologized when he asked for a thin crust pizza. He apologized for his absence on one of the rare days he could not make it to a SAG-AFTRA picket line. He does not, however, apologize to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Starzinski was a volunteer strike captain outside Netflix’s Los Angeles headquarters at Sunset Bronson Studios in Hollywood.
Denny Hamlin wins 2024 Clash at the Coliseum
After losing the lead early, Denny Hamlin stormed back to win the 2024 Clash at the Coliseum in a two-lap shootout. The biggest story of the day wasn’t necessarily Hamlin’s win, but the mere fact that the race happened. Originally scheduled for Sunday, NASCAR moved the Clash forward more than 24 hours to avoid tomorrow’s storms, a move which even drivers didn’t expect. “It was awesome.
NASCAR Clash at the Coliseum moved up to Saturday evening due to inclement weather
With forecasts calling for heavy rain in Los Angeles on Sunday, NASCAR has announced a schedule change for the Clash at the Coliseum. Instead of the Cup Series and Mexico Series races taking place on Sunday, both races will now be held Saturday evening. The Clash at the Coliseum is now set to begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, over 24 hours earlier than originally scheduled.
Preview: An unusual Clash at the Coliseum looks to keep delivering surprises
The Clash at the Coliseum is this Saturday, rather than the originally scheduled Sunday, in a surprise to most involved. But don’t worry, the drivers will still be making their normally programmed left turns. Although the change that moved the race up by more than 24 hours came as a surprise, it hasn’t perturbed drivers. “I’m already here to race,” Ty Gibbs (No. 54) said.
USC vs. Oregon: What to watch for in USC’s first game since Alex Grinch’s dismissal
USC fell out of the rankings after a home loss to No. 5 Washington last week. Its schedule does not get easier Saturday, as the Trojans take on No. 6 Oregon in Eugene. Oregon is 8-1, having lost to Washington on a late missed field goal, but the Ducks find themselves in the center of the playoff race. A win at home would keep them in control of their own destiny. If they win out, they more than likely give the Pac-12 its third ever playoff appearance as the bell tolls on the conference.
Halftime update: Caleb Williams not looking like himself
No. 10 USC did not have a strong start to its 94th matchup against historic rival No. 21 Notre Dame. An early interception from a heavily-pressured Caleb Williams led to an easy touchdown for Notre Dame redshirt freshman running back Gi’Bran Payne just three plays later. The game has yet to improve for the Trojans. After a series of punts, USC managed a methodical drive that ended in a 25-yard field goal. The first quarter ended with a 7-3 Notre Dame lead.
NFL Draft review: Ranking the top teams’ draft classes
One week removed from the draft, and the dust has mostly settled. Lamar Jackson has officially re-signed with the Baltimore Ravens, Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles was cut by the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill has dressed up as an Alpine pit crew member. Now that the excitement has cooled, overreactions are less likely and rookie camps have started up, here’s a look at the top 12 draft classes in 2023. Tier One Drafts Arizona Cardinals The Cardinals are in a tough position.
Kyle Kirkwood wins 2023 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
Kyle Kirkwood converted his pole position to a win Sunday, controlling most of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The Andretti driver held the lead into turn one and led for the whole first stint of the race. He lost the lead in the second stint but took the lead on pit strategy and never looked back on the road to his first career win. “Through my entire ladder series career, I always wanted more,” Kirkwood said.
What to watch for in the 2023 IndyCar Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach
NASCAR moved the Clash race to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in an effort to attract younger, West Coast metropolitan viewers. Formula One is set to race in Las Vegas for the first time since four disastrous attempts to run races in the Caesar’s Palace parking lot, also attempting to attract West Coast viewers. IndyCar has been here for longer.
Kyle Busch wins Pala Casino 400, last two-mile race at Auto Club Speedway
Kyle Busch took the lead late and didn’t look back on his way to winning the Pala Casino 400 Sunday at Auto Club Speedway in its last race as a two-mile track. The win marked the 19th straight year in which Kyle Busch won a race in the Cup Series, breaking a tie for most consecutive years with a win, which he held with “The King” — Richard Petty. “There’s not very many records that you can beat that Richard Petty has,” Busch said.
What to expect in NASCAR’s Pala Casino 400
The end is nigh. Much of the land on which Fontana’s Auto Club Speedway sits was sold Friday, reportedly for around 300 million dollars. That solidified what has long been suspected: This will be the last race on Fontana’s two-mile configuration. Practice and qualifying for both the Cup and Xfinity race were canceled due to rain and snow. Drivers will get their first taste of the last bite of the Fontana apple in racing conditions. Here’s what to watch for when they get going.
Martin Truex Jr. wins accident-filled Clash at the Coliseum
It was a battle of attrition, but the best car won anyway. Martin Truex Jr. had the fastest car all race. It took time for him to get to the front, but once he did, no one could compete. Truex (No. 19) set the fastest time in practice yesterday and showed pace all day, but he had a rough qualifying that saw him start sixth in the second heat race.
What to watch for in the second Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum
The Clash at the Coliseum kicks off the 2023 NASCAR Cup season today. With the sport returning to the West Coast, here are a few storylines to look out for. Underdogs in front Justin Haley won pole position. He qualified third overall last year, putting him on pole for one of the heats, but he’s far from a star driver. Haley drives for Kaulig Racing, only in its second year as a full-time team.
Bomb threat reveals flaws in USC’s emergency alert system
Adjunct instructor Nick Morr was working on the fourth floor of Wallis Annenberg Hall Thursday afternoon when three police officers entered the room. After his offer to help was rebuffed, he asked if everything was alright but got no response. Morr said he then “started to assume the worst” and packed up to leave. Only when he was leaving did he receive a DPS notification alerting him to a bomb threat on campus.
Downtown Osaka's faded replica of Korea's kaleidoscopic markets
There’s something suspicious about the way Japan and Korea differ so much in the taste and presentation of their foods, as if a kind of sibling rivalry were going on, some struggle for distinction and specialization. “I like it spicy!” the Korean sibling seems to say. “I like it subtle!” retorts Japan.
The Wire Issue 414
The Wire Tapper 47: featuring BirdWorld, Actress × London Contemporary Orchestra, Arp, The Space Lady, Hifiklub & Lee Ranaldo, and more.
A Pattern's Math Magic
A report from our Berlin correspondent on design and society. You could stick Tokolo Pattern Magnets on your refrigerator door, but the temptation to rotate them into endlessly new shapes — and the magic of the fact that every edge will always match every other, whatever’s happening in the tangled center of each tile — might make you forget why you came into the kitchen in the first place.
Osaka, give us this day our decent European bread
Encountering strangers on trips back to Europe, I find myself falling into a familiar conversational call-and-response: Where do you live? Really? But isn’t Japan very expensive? No, these days a city like Osaka has living costs comparable with Berlin or Glasgow. But with better food, right? Yes, generally with better food. But there are some European foods I really miss in Japan. Things you can get here in Europe that I can’t in Osaka.
A new ceremony for tea in the rundown heart of Osaka
In Japan — especially in Japan — food and drink have always been about more than merely nutrition or a mere succession of tastes. They have also been a pretext for bringing people together in social rituals that don’t have to be ancient, formal or solemn: rituals focused on food and drink can also be fresh, inventive and humorous.
Like some cat from Japan
From The Japan Times Photos by Masayoshi Sukita and Yoshiaki Miura David Bowie performs live at the Nippon Budokan on June 4, 1996. | Yoshiaki Miura The late David Bowie's appreciation of Japan and its culture was strong. Following his recent death, The Japan Times asked five people who share that connection with the country, and who witnessed the decades-spanning trajectory of this starman, to recall what his sound and vision meant to them.
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